Gore investigates Apple

The former US vice-president Al Gore has been asked to help uncover inconvenient truths at computer company Apple, which is embroiled in a Silicon Valley scandal over share options.

Mr Gore, a non-executive director of Apple, is on a committee charged with looking into how Apple rewarded its leadership. With Mr Gore are former General Motors director Jerome York and Google boss Eric Schmidt, both of whom face possible conflicts of interest.

The inquiry surrounds grants between 1997 and 2002. Apple admits backdating options to give directors greater rewards and acknowledges "serious concerns". Mr York was reportedly involved in granting options and Mr Schmidt is under scrutiny as former chief of Novell, which is also investigating options.